The Los Angeles Times previously revealed that the official after‑action report—intended to document operational failures and guide future improvements—underwent significant edits that softened language, removed explicit criticism of command decisions, and reframed staffing failures as successes. In the final public version, this was rewritten to claim the department went “above and beyond” its deployment matrix. The Palisades Fire, which erupted in January 2025, killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes, becoming one of the most destructive urban‑wildland fires in Los Angeles history. Community members and fire‑safety advocates have criticized Moore’s refusal to investigate the edits, arguing that accountability is essential to preventing future disasters. Letters to the Los Angeles Times have questioned why the department is avoiding transparency when lives were lost and critical mistakes may have been concealed.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 26, 2026 21:17 UTC